Interlocking mechanism for voting machines



BEST AVAlLA-BLE COPN Jan. 5 1926.

J. S. BAKER NTELOCKING MEGHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES Filed July 2 1, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan 5 1926. BEST AVAILABLE COP`.

. I J. s. BAKER INTERLOCKING MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES Filed July 2l, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BEST AVAILABLE COP`.

Jan. 5 1926. 1,568,709

J. s. BAKER INTERLOCKING. MECHANISM FOR VOTING MACHINES Filed July 2l, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wus-nica:

Patented Jan. 5, 192.6,

- BEST AVAILABLE COF" nig-in f-faiee f. .Tonus-1311x113, or Los ANGELES, cALiFonNmx-*H'j i I'NTRLO'CING MEcHANrsM FOR VOTING MACHINES.- i f l application ieiiiuiyzi, i924. serial Nq. 727,376,

Be #af man that r. 'Joss Bimgfi vcitizen of the United States, residing' atl'os This invention is'an improvementhninterlocklng mechanisms for vote registering machinesfor vote or ballot countlng 'inachmes-nd thellke, andis particularly'designedfor use 1n connection with a ballot countingvmaichine such as shown'and de- V-s'cribed'in my U. S. lLetters Patent No.

1,507,548, 4dated September 2, 19245 4'The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel interlocking mechanism for such machines, which may be readily set up or adjusted, for' election, is simple in construction andoperation, has a relatively wide interlocking' range, andwhich will be positive in its operation.

Another object is to provide an interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines, said mechanism having a wide interlocking range, the interlocking members comprising relatively short changeable cam members pivoted and swingable between certain limits, thereby decreasing frictional losses, and rendering the mechanism sensitive and positive in operation, requiring less operating power, and obtaining a relatively wide interlocking range with the use of comparatively short swingable interlocking cams. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel interlocking mechanism in which the pivoted camswhi'ch'are depressed by the vote registering members loftheniachi-ne, contact with pivoted cam blades havinglimited swinging movement `by reason of certain set stops whereby only a predeterminednumber of the vote registering members of the machine maybe depressed aty the same time, means being provided for grouping any of the registering members as desired. The cam members are either interlocking camsor `neutralcams and are I Win explain theimenti withfjfefei.

.interclian'geableat lthat removing a vloosely moimt'e'diwingable interlocking cam and replacing vsameV .with a neutral cani,

the intel-leaking'systenijmaybe readily and "5 easily-- adj usted atlwill, the simplicity. of za'djustine'nt being one 'of the gfeaturesfcff'my mechanism. ify I..

Other minor objects of the be hereinafter set forth; .f

inventionfwill i A A l ence to. the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodimentLtherebf to enable others to adopt and use the'sanie, and will summarizein the claimsthe novel 55 features of construction, and,ncvelcombil i" tions of parts, frwhi'ch 'j protection, ,is

I 'l j 1 :mij ,i i'. 1\,\ VIn the drawings: f., Figure l is a' plan view, partlyfboken away, of the mechanism. Y Figure 2 is a side elevation Yor' the mechanism. Y Figure 3 isa front elevation of themechanism, towards the rear." l y y 7l Figure 4 is a plan view of the electrical circuit makers and breakers.' A

Figure 5 is a lsection on the line 5-f-5,Fi'g ure 4;.

Fig. 6 is a side view ot' the interlocking 80 U-shaped block. Fig. 7 is an end view thereof. Fig. 8 is a side view of the spacer U-shaped block. Fig.

9 is an end view thereof.

As shown in the drawings, the lentire in- 8l terlocking mechanismis assembled o'n a base frame or plate 1, adapted to rest, preferably in horizontal position, in the machine upon tracks 1*,'which tracks aref` disposed horizontally below the lower ends of the'regis- 90 tering members (notA shown), or 'detector pins of the machine such as described ini-tiny aforesaid application, said tracks"1a being bolted or otherwise secured to the uprights M of the'machine. The base frame or plate I6 l may be locked in adjusted positiony on said tracks'l by means of thumb screws'vflb'br the like.

The base frame 1 is provided with evenly spaced upstandingbosses '1c on its 'upper 100 face, adjacent the front 'and reared es thereof, said bosses being provided with ,u "frame'Q (as shownin Figs.f;9. and '3) bores adapted to receive the guide posts or studs 2a of the parallel frames 2, which carry the cam bracket posts 2b, whereby the frames 2 which are preferably angle bars, and the studs 2a thereof, may move freely up and down in said bosses 1. Tracks la are likewise provided with dependig bo's's'es ld on 'their :lower faces, whichbosses 1d are adapted to register with the upstanding bosses 1 of frame ll, when said frame 'l Ais properly positioned on said tracks l, bosses ld being likewise .fprvidedwith boresyadap'ted to receive and retain the studs 3 of follower plate 3 (hereinafter referred to) so that by raising the follower plate 3, the studs 3a in the bosses 1d Awill abut the lower ends of the posts orstuds 21a in bosses 1, and will thereby raise the frames 2 for the purpose hereinafter described.

Follower 'plate '3 slidesfreely Vupan'd 'down in bosses Vld `but is not attached to the 'plate frame l, so that the frame l may be moved without interfering with thellower'plate 3. The followerv plate is held 'up ir'ifop'era tive position'andreceives its'motion from a fsuiftable'fconnecting 'rod B'actuated by a cam -and 'lever from a shaft 'of 'the machine (not shown) mounted below said 'follower plate, and th'e movement of the follower pla'tef'is S- linitedthat Lthe studsfaa'canot ump O'uc 'of the bosses ld oif'tracks l, rWhen follower plate 3 is in its down position thefiipper endsof studs 3 will be disposed slightl'ybeilow'the upper surfaces'of tracl'rslf. ,Y

. Upon each fname-"2l is Va. inw`'ojf evenly spaced upstanding hollow bearing posts 2,1?, which posts are ,preferably riveted to` saic' l amv oneach bearing postQ?v is loosely inounted a tubular member 4, having its upper end closed on which end lthemem'berd receives its depression stroke, said members et normally. retained in elevated position jon 'said posts by means of coil springs 5 wh ich lit within the hollow bearing posts 2b,.'and membersll, and contact with 'the frames 2 and upper closed ends of members g4 Integral with, or attached to, each tubular member 4, is an amid, extending horizontally and radially therefronr` and depending from the outer ends ofisai'd arms 4, and'attached thereto Vin any desired manner are the interlocking and neutral cams lOand llhereinafter referred to. One 'tubular member ft -is disposed directly below Y, the lower end fof each registering=member or detector pin (not-shown) of the-machine, so

. that when the registering members are lin their normal elevated positions 'the members a will also be in, their 'elevated positions, and the interlockingr mechanism inactive, but when lthe registering membersaae depressed, the relatedmembers,4,wilt-likewise be de pressed, .and the interlocking mechanism putintoiaction.

BEST AVAlLABLE COP.

Drilled into base plate l are a plurality of rows of evenly spaced bearing holes le in which the cam blades 6 and 7 are pivoted at their ends, on studs 6a and 7e respectively, whereby the cam blades 6 and 7 may swivel or pivot freely upon said frame 1. The rows `o`f 'Holes le are preferably disposed directly below the rowsof studs 2b on the angle frames 2, but the individual holes le in said rows are preferably-disposed intermediate adjacent studs 2b, as shown in Figures 2 .nd,3

Cam blades 6 and 7 are identical in construction wi`th :the-exception that the bearing studs 7* of cam blades 7 extend below the base plate l, and on the lower end of said studs are detachably attached transfer gear segments 9, the pitch radii of-said gear segmentsv 9 being equal to half the distance between qadjacent rows of holes le, so that when 'the gear segments 9, attached to cam blades 7 of adjacent rows, mesh (as shown iii-Figure bl) the-motion of the cam blades 6 and.' 7 of one VrowV will be. imparted or transferred to4 the cam blades v6 'and 7 of th'efadjacent row; thereby combining the bladesgo'f a plurality ofrows. intoone single group. Gear segments 9 are interchangeable on the blade 7, and are preferably detachablywattachedtosaid st uds 7a by lmeans of key washers7b, and screws 7c as shown in Fig. 2).

Also, suitablyl spaced in rows in the base .frame l, are bladestopv holes 1f., adapted `to receiveggstops 'forE limiting the, swinging lmovement of Atl iebla des,Gaudi-7 of each groupfand whiehiilt :inesa'd :holes 12 Said ,Stops-Simms heldifiaerositionthereri :by means of screws 8a.. .T-he Vstopsfare i'nterchangeable, ingany.hole..1,l .also the cam blades6and7 are interchangeable.in any of the bearingholesfl The vmembers 4 are mounted oiifpostsQ-t f sothat the, samemay.- slide-freely? upand down, and; may fpivotthereonfwwhile the cams -l0 and fll,.wh ich are attached to -the arms Ll-aiof said members 4 -are adjusting lthemselves between the blades 6 and 7 during, the interlockingoperation, which operation merely comprises the forcible compression `ofthe members l (by the registering members or detector pins ofthe machine) withfthei-r cams l0 or 1.1,'to'force said cams downfbetweenithe adjusted blades 6 and 7 of the 'various cgrou-ps.

Cams -10 arethe interlocking cams, and cams `11 are neutral cams, and atleast one interlocking cam ,l0 is required for each group, otherwise there will .-be no interlocking action. The wide parts rof cams 1l and the narrow portions of 'cams :IO-lare of 'the same width,whi'ch width is equal to the normal distance between adjacent blades 6 vor f7, thewde portions, however,..of interbearing studsv 7i on. anycam "Too ias

1,568,709 BEST AVAILABLE COpy lock-ing Lcams IO-are greaterthanthe normal distance between adjacent blades 6 or 7.'

Referring tolthe group of three cams, (in Fig. 2) two neutral cams 11, and one interlocking cam 10 is shown-between stops 8 which stops limit the swing of the group of blades 6 or 7. The neutral cams 11 may be depressed between the blades 6 without moving ,said blades since the. overall widths of' said cams ll'are .just yequal to the normal distancesI between adjacent blades 6 or 7. The wideportionsof interlockimg` cams 1() however will not, when depressed, pass vbetween the' blades without separating same, or fpivoting said blades, since the overall widths ofcams y10 are greater lthan the normal? .distance betweenadjacent blades. lVhen'the members: 4 of this group are depressed by` their l respective registering members, the blades '6 will be forced apart, and will pivot on -their studs between the stops 8 and the smaller portions of cam 11 adjacent .cam 10 will -be forcedagainst the adj acent blade 6 toallow room for the depres sion'l'opcam 10Q-There 'will however, still be room ,between the'blades for the other cam fllfftopass between thefblades. This group off three member's4 is set up to allow fortwo candidates to be voted for, since twocams' only may pass or be depressed, the. narrow partof one cam `11 compensatingT for the passing of the wide part of cam 10.

f -Ifany o'f the cams lO'or 11 should become stuck between'the cam blades 6 or 7, after L the ldepression thereof or interlocking operation, and if the -springsin the members 4 are not strong enough to lift the weight of the cams lO'and 11=so stuck, by raising the'follower vplate 3, as'above described, and the l'frames 2 about a quarter of an inch, the members 4 will thereby be raised, as vabove described, 'to loosen said stuckcams. When plate 3 is lowered, frames 2 immediately drop'into ttheir normal positions, after leaving the cams 10 and 11in their normalY positions. This feature of raising the frames 2 bymeans of follower plate 3, is provided merely for safety, and to assure that no cams 10-or 11 remain stuck between cam blades 6 and 7' after the interlocking operation. Y

Inoaddition' to the above mechanism I have provided an auxiliary mechanism to be used only'when the mechanism is set up to include :more than one group, but only oney candidate for all the 'groups may be voted, such as at presidential elections where the voter may jeither vote directly for the president in onegroup, or may vote for one elector candidate, but cannot vote for both simultaneously, my auxiliary mechanism preventing registering of votes for a candidatey in more than the-one group.

While the interlocking mechanism above described prevents the registering of irregu- .member 4 of one lar votes in the, respective groups, it'would not prevent registering the irregularly voted groups, but my auxiliary mechanism will prevent such registering.

The auxiliary mechanism consists ot' small interlocking U-shaped blocks 12 (Figs. 6 and 7 and U-shaped spacer blocks 13 (Figs. 8 and 9), which blocks are slidably mounted on vertical legs of said angle frames 2. Blocks 12 and 13 are interchangeable, and may be of tongue and groove construction to hold same in alignment on said iframes 2. Blocks 12 are provided with small projections 12a extending from one lower edge, said projections being adapted to slide under the lower edge of an adjacent member 4 when shifted into engagement thcrewithas shown in Figure 3. At one end of each row' of blocks 12, 13, is a coil spring 14, adapted to normally shift the row of blocks 12, 13 out of engagement with the members4 of said row, while at the other end of each"row"is a contacting memberl which is also slidable on 'the frame 2 but ispermanently attached thereto by means of a stud 2x on said frame 2 engaging a slot 15 in said mem ber 15.

Mounted opposite each member V154 is a horizontally disposed plunger 16 pivoted on the end of an arm 1T, which arm 1T is yieldably mounted on a rock shatt18fjournaled in the frame of the machine. At one end of shaft 18 is keyed rocker arm 19, which is hingedly connected to the core of an electric solenoid 20 so ythat lwhen the solenoid is excited arm 19 will rock shaft 18, and thereby force all of plungers l16 against members 15, whereby 'each row of blocks 12 and 13 will be shifted on `said frames 2 until the lugs 12a' of blocks 12 pass under the bottom edges ot' members 4, thereby preventing the members 4 of said rows from being depressed, the blocks 12 and 13 being held in the above position until after the depression or interlocking stroke, and thereby preventing the registering ot' the votes in the rows so locked. As soon as the solenoid circuit is broken. springs I4 push the blocks 12, 13. of their respect-ire rows back out of engagement with members 4. 1f the lugs 12 on blocks 12 should strike row and could not thus be shifted then the arm 17 Jfor said row will yield on shaft 18 to compensate for the movement of rock shaft 18. but the other arms 17 for the other rows will nevertheless function. The core of solenoid 2O extends down through the coil andis ot such length that the center of the core is below the center of the coil. so that when the solenoid cin cuit is closed, and the solenoid excited, the core will be raised,k thereby rocking arm 19 and shaft 18, and actuating the plungers 16 shifting the blocks 12 and 13 into operative position above described. Arm 19, and

the head of the core are preferably made of brass and are therefore unattracted by the solenoid.

The electrical contacts for controlling the solenoid 20 are placed in the voting or vote registering machine in such position that they will be directly operated by the voting keys or detector pins of the machine, said contacts beingshown in Figures 4. and 5. Two or more base members 21, preferably ot' insulating material, may be mounted in any convenient part of the machine, and the electrical conductors 22a, 22h, 22e are inlaid in same and spaced apart. Conductor 22a is the live conductor and may be directlyv connected with a source of electric current. while conductors 22". and 22e are the dead conductors. Conductor 22a is disposed so as to contact with each of the contact disks 23 when the same are operated by their respective registering members, except the contact disks 23a iu the presidential group, as shown in Figure il.

Conductor 22b is the intermediate conductor which receives its current through the contact disks 23a from 22, While conductor 22e is the solenoid conductor and receives its.current lfrom ,conductor 22h, contaots being made: from one conductortot-he other by meansoi"l contact disksg23, which bridge the gaps between Y conductors.. .said discs being operated by.and Withthe voting keys or detector pins V Vof the machine,- as shown in Figures .4. and 5.. KIif a vote is cast for the Pre-sident, a disk 23a Will bridge conductors 22b and 22e, but since these conditetors are both normal-ly dead4 no current will pass to lthe solenoid 20, thereby allow-- ing the registering of the president .vote.` But .if a .vote iscast for anyE elector simul# taneously when voting for President, a. disk,

23 Willdrop, and. makecircuit between. 22avr and22b Iwhich operation will complete the solenoid circuit, through Wirel 22fv and will rock shaftlS.. If,'however, one votes tor the electors, and should drop av disk 23 only,

then no current can-get to-conductor 22e and the solenoid will not besexcited. In other- Words, one must vote for the tivo groups and cause a vdisk 23 and a disk 2.? todrop in order to make a complete circuit to the solenoid 20 to interlock the groups.

form shown in the drawingsfor obviously changes might be made therein Without departing from: the scope l of the invention.

My novel interlocking mechanism is .simple in construction andoperation, is positive `in,

action, and may be readily adapted to suit the particular machine `:with which-the mehanism is to be used.

I claim:

1 In-an interlocking vsystem for .vote

istering machines, a series of camwmembers anda series of intermediatdmembers, the,

cam members acting at anglesto the intel'- mediate members, and the intermediate members being freely mounted at their ends and the cam members being freely mounted at their sides so that all said membersmay swivel in their bearings during interlocking operation. v A

2. In an interlocking system for vote registering machines, a series of parallel swingable members, and a series of changeable members interposed at right angles to the first nientioned'members. all said members being freely pivoted so that they may adjust Athemselves during interlocking.

3. In an interlocking system for voting machines, a plurality of cam members. and cam blades. said cam members being swingable horizontally and movable' vertically. and said cam blades being adapted to swivel laterally under the action of the cam members passingv therebetween during interlocking. i j f et. In an interlocking system foi-voting` machinesfa plurality of cam membersga position; and interposed lswiveled members which are also freelymounted.

.16. In :tn-interlocking systeniI-for voting machines, a series ofiposts. aseries of 'cam members slipped overv 'and vworking Y freely up and down'and swiveling on saidposts;`

springs toihold the' camfmembers in their normal positions, hand' finte'rposed v"blades freely mountedand adapted to swivel from on'eend.,V

machines, a plurality of posts, cam members mounted-onsaid posts-so that` they mayswing horizontally and--move upand down onjsaid-posts;. and means-'to automatically loosen any members-,whichmay become stuck-during tlie'interlocking oper- I do not limit my invention to the exact:

adapted to swivelv andnioveup and downv thereon, andv agframe adaptedtofbe raised toloosen any-members Whichy may` become stuck duringthe. interlockingoperation.'-

9. In; an interlocking systemuforf-votingmachines; .a plurality..omembersjmeans for dividing the members intoy individual groups, means for combininga' plurality of groups for. one oliice, .and means; for 'pre-l A v v l Y 7. In an interlocking' system' for voting'y venting the simultaneous operation of more than one group it it is attempted'to' vote or candidates in more than one group.

10. In an interlocking system for voting machines, a plurality of members, means for dividing the members into individual groups, and electrically operated interlocking means to prevent the simultaneous registering of votes in more than one group, if it is attempted to vote for candidates in more than one group.

11. In an interlocking system i'or voting machines, a plurality of members capable of swiveling and moving up and down, means for dividing the members into individual groups, and interlocking means to prevent the simultaneous registering of votes in more than one group, it it is attempted to vote for candidates in more than one group.

12. In an interlocking system for voting` machines, a plurality oi' members capable of swiveling Yand Vmoving up and down, means for dividing the members into individual groups, means for combining two groups for one ofiice, and interlocking means to prevent the simultaneous registering of votes in more than onegroup, it it is attempted to vote in more than one group.

13. In an interlocking system for voting machines, a plurality ot members; means for dividing the members into groups; with means for preventing the simultaneous operation of the members of more than one group, it it is attempted to vote for candidates in several individual groups while permitting voting of any one of the" individual groups.

14. In an interlocking system for voting machines, a plurality of members; means for dividing the members into groups, means for preventing the simultaneous voting operation of several groups if it is attempted to vote in more than one group, but permitting operation of the members in any one group if the voting is done in only one group.

15. In an interlocking system for voting machines, a plurality of members and means for dividing the members into groups, means for operating the members of any group; and means for preventing the simultaneous voting operation oi'members of more than one group it it is attempted to vote for candidates in several individual groups, but permitting operation of the members in any one group if the voting is done in only one group.

16. In an interlocking system for voting machines, a plurality of members, means for dividing the members into individual groups, and means for preventing the simultaneous operation of more than one group if it is attempted to vote for candidates in more than one group.

BEST AvAiLAeLE coe 5 17. In an interlocking system for vote registering machines, cam members and intermediate members, both members being :freely mounted 4so that they may swivel in their bearings and have a sweepingmotion while interlocking; means for dividing the members into groups, and means for preventing the operation of members in more than one group, if it is attempted to vote for candidates in more than one group at one time.

f 18. An interlocking mechanism for Vote registering machines, comprising a plurality of pivoted cam members and a plurality of pivoted cooperating Vcam blades having a limited swinging movement, said cani and blade members being Vadapted to swing in parallel horizontal planes, and having their pivots disposed inthe same vertical plane.

19. An interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines, comprising a 'plurality of cam members, and a plurality ofcooperating cam blades, said cam andblade members being pivoted at their ends, all of said pivots being disposed in the same vertical plane, and said blade members having a limited swing.

20. An interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines, comprising a plurality" of pivoted cam members adapted to be depressed, and a plurality of pivoted cooperating cam blades having a limited swinging movement, whereby when said cams are depressed the blades will arrest the downward movements of some of said cams, said pivots being Vdisposed in the same vertical plane.

21. An interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines, comprising a plurality of pivoted cam members adapted to be individually or simultaneously depressed, and a plurality of pivoted cooperating cam blades having a limited swinging movement and adapted to pivot when said cams are depressed to arrest the movements of said cams, said pivots being disposed in the same vertical plane.

22. In an interlocking mechanism forvote registering machines, comprising a plurality of pivoted cam members; and a plurality of pivoted cooperating cam blades; one or more of said cams being of greater width than the normal distance between adjacent blades, and the remaining cams being o width equal to the normal distance between blades; whereby the movements of the one or more wider cams will be arrested.

23. An interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines comprising a plurality of pivoted cam members adapted to be depressed; and-a plurality of pivoted cooperating cam blades having a limited swinging movement; one or more or' said cams having portions 'greater in width than the normal distance between adjacent blades, and the remaining cams being gf width equal to the nor-mal distance 'between blades; whereby when said cams are depressed said blades -tween adjacent blades; and the remaining cams being oi width equal to the normal distancey between blades, whereby when said cams are depressed said blades will be caused to pivot and arrest the movements of the one or more wider cams,

2,5. An interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines, comprising a plurality of evenly spaced posts; cam members pivoted on said posts respectively and adapted to be depressed thereon; means for normally maintaining said cams in elevated position; a plurality of pivoted cam blades disposed vertically below and intermediate said cams; and means for limiting the swinging of said blades, whereby when said cams are depressed the blades will pivot between said limits and arrest the downward movements of some of said cams.

26, An interlecking mechanism for vote registering machines, comprising a plurality of evenly spaced posts; cam members pivoted on said posts respectively and adapted to be depressed thereon; means for normally maintainingsaid cams in elevated position; a plurality of pivoted cam blades disposed below andintermediate said cams;

and stops for limiting the swing of said cam blades; one or more of said cams having portions of greater width than the normal distance between adjacent blades; the remaining cams being of width equal to the normal' distance between blades whereby when said cams are depressed the blades will pivot between said stops to arrest the downward movements of the one or more wider cams..

27. A n interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines having a plurality of registering members adapted to be respectively depressed for each candidate to be voted for; comprising a plurality of evenly spaced posts mounted in the machine below said register members respectively; interchangeable cam members pivoted on each of said posts and adapted to be depressed by Said., 'registering members; means for 1101- essere@ BEST VAlLABL COP.

mally maintaining said cams in elevated position; ay plurality oi' interchangeable pivoted cam blades disposed below and intermediate said cams; and stops for limiting the swing of said blades; one or more of said cams having portions of greater width than the normal distance between adjacent blades, the remaining cams being of same width as the normal distance between blades; whereby when said cams are depressed the blades will pivot between said stops to arrest the downward movements of the one or more wider cams.

28. An interlocking mechanism for vote. registering machines; comprising a frame adapted to be reciprocably mounted in the machine; a plurality of evenly spaced pivoted cams reciprocably mounted on said frame; a plurality of pivoted cam blades disposed below and intermediate said cams and adapted to cooperate' with said cams, and means for raising said frame to disengage said cams from the blades.

29. In mechanism as set forth in claim 28, said means comprising a vertically reciprocable member mounted in the frame oi' the machine, said member having posts thereon adapt-ed to engage the said frame whereby when said member is raised said frame will be raised and the cams will be disengaged from said blades.

30. An interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines; comprising a frame adapted to be vertically recipr cably mounted in the machine; a plurality of evenly spaced posts mounted upon said frame; a plurality of cams reciprocably mounted on said posts; means for maintaining said cams normally elevated; aplurality of cam blades disposed below and intermediate said cams; and adapted to cooperate with said cams; and means for raising said frame to disengageV said cams from the blades.

31. In mechanism as set forth in claim 30, said means comprising a vertically reciprocable member mounted in the frame of the machine, said member having posts thereon adapted to engage the under side of said Jframe to elevate same to raise the frame and the cams thereon out of engagement with said blades.

32. An interlocking mechanism for votel registering machines; comprising a frame adapted to be vertically reciprocably mounted in the machine; a plurality ofA adapted' A,toengage the under side of said frame wherebywhen said member is elevated the'i'rame and cams thereon will be raised out of engagement with said blades to release any cams which may be stuck between said blades;

33. An interlocking mechanism for vote registeringmachines;.comprising a plurality of rowsof pivoted cam members adapted to be depressed; a plurality of rer-.s of pivoted cooperating cam blades i'or arresting the movements of said cams; means for combining blades of each row into one or more individual groups; means for combining blades of adjacent rows into one or more groups; and interlocking means for preventing the registering of votes in more than one group.

34. In mechanism as set forth in claim 33, said means for combining the blades in adjacent rows into groups comprising intermeshing gear segments mounted on the pivots of adjacent blades at.' the same end of adjacent rows of blades, whereby the motion of the blades of one row will be transferred to the blades of adjacent rows, and adjustable stops adapted to be placed at the free ends of each group to limit their swinging movements.

In mechanism as set forth in claim 33, said interlocking means for preventing4 registering of votes in more than one group, comprising blocks slidably mounted adjacent said cams and having portions adapted to prevent the depression of said individual cams; means for normallyY holding said blocks disengaged from said cams; a shaft mounted transversely to blocks, plungers eccentrically and yieldably mounted on said shaft opposite said blocks; and means for oscillating said shaft to engage the blocks with said cams to prevent registering of any votes in more than one group, and to prevent a vote being registered in any other group while a vote is being registered in one oup.

36. In an interlocking mechanism for vote registering machines, comprising a plurality of rows of pivoted cam members adapted to be depressed; a plurality of rows of pivoted cooperating cam blades; means for dividing the cams and blades of the same rows into individual groups; means for combining the cams and blades of adjacent rows into different groups; and interlocking means for preventing the registering of votes in more than one group, one or more of said cams in each group having portions of greater width than the normal distanceA between adjacent blades, the remaining cams in said groups being of same width as the normal distance between said blades; whereby when said cams are depressed the movement of the one or more wider cams in each group will be arrested.

BEST AVAILABLE COP. '7

37. In mechanism as set forth in claim 3G, said means for combining the cams and blades of adjacent rows into groups comprising intermeshing gear segments mounted on the pivots of adjacent blades at the same end of adjacent rows of blades, whereby the motion of the blades of one row will betransferred fto theblades of adjacent rows., and adjustable stops adapted to be placed at. the free ends of each `group to limit their swinging movement.

3S. In mechanism as set fort-h in claim 36, said interlocking means for preventing registering of votes in more than one group, comprising blocks slidably mounted adjacent each row of cams and having port-ions adapted to prevent the depression of said individual cams; means for normally holding said blocks disengaged from said cams; a shaft mounted transversely to said blocks; plunger-s eccentrically and yieldably mounted on said shaft adapted to contact with blocks; a solenoid, an arm on said shaft operated by the core of said solenoid; and means for exciting said solenoid to engage said blocks with said rows of cams whereby when a single cam in any group is depressed said solenoid will be inoperative, and when cams in two or more groups are simultaneously depressed. said solenoid will shift the blocks into engagement with said cams to prevent registering of any of said votes.

39. In an interlocking system for vote registering machines, a series of cam blades each adapted to swivel in the plane of the blades; cams disposed intermediate the blades and adapted to swivel in a plane parallel with the series of blades; and means for limiting the swing of the blades.

40. In an interlocking system for vote registering machines, a series of cam blades each adapted to swivel in the plane of the series of blades; a series of cams adjacent said blades, said cams being disposed intermediate the blades and adapted to swivel in a plane parallel with the series of blades; and means for limiting the swing of the b'lildes; said cams being selectively depress1 e.

4l. In an interlocking system for vote registering machines, a plurality of rows of cam blades each blade being adapted to .swivel in the plane of the blades; a plurality of rows of cams adjacent said blades, said cams being disposed intermediate the blades and adapted to swivel in a plane parallel with the rows of blades; and means for limiting the swing of the blades; said cams being selectively depressible.

42. In an interlocking system for vote registering machines, a series of cam blades each adapted to swivel in a horizontal plane; a series of cams above said blades, said cams being disposed intermediate the blades and adapted to swivel in a horizontal plane;

means for limiting the swing of the blades; and means for normall)vv maintaining the minis in raised position.

In :m interlocking system for vote registering machines, a series of cam blades each adapted to swivel in a. horizontal plane; n series of cams above said blades, said cams being disposed intermediate the blades and adapted to swivel in a horizontal plane; means for limiting the swing of the blades; and men-ns for normally maintaining the cams in raised position; cams being selectively depressible.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

JOHN S. BAKER. 

